For incinerators that treat hazardous waste, what is the minimum required combustion efficiency?

Incinerators designed to treat hazardous waste are held to stringent standards to ensure that harmful pollutants are effectively destroyed during the combustion process. The minimum required combustion efficiency for these incinerators is set at 99.999% or better. This high level of efficiency is crucial because it minimizes the release of toxic compounds into the environment, such as dioxins and furans, which can result from incomplete combustion. By achieving such a high combustion efficiency, the incinerators effectively convert hazardous waste into non-toxic byproducts, thereby fulfilling regulatory requirements and protecting public health and the environment.

The lower percentages, such as 80%, 95%, and even 99.5%, do not reflect the rigorous standards necessary for hazardous waste incineration, as they would still allow significant amounts of harmful emissions to escape. Therefore, the 99.999% requirement is critical in ensuring the safe treatment of hazardous materials.